Background: Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness characterized by a false perception and a flawed apprehension of reality. The illness approximately afflicts one percent of the world's population and can lead to significant limitations in functionality. At minimum the illness lasts six months, but can also be permanent. For afflicted persons it is of great importance that relatives are understanding and supportive, which has shown to increase wellbeing and decrease the risk of relapse in persons with schizophrenia.

Aim: To illuminate health professionals' experiences of how relatives' treatment can be promoted towards persons with schizophrenia.

Methods: The method that was used had a qualitative design and included interviews with six participants. The interviews were semi-structured with six open questions followed with follow up questions. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed through a manifest content analysis that resulted in two themes and six subthemes.

Results: The study revealed that support and education provided by health professionals gave relatives knowledge and understanding surrounding schizophrenia and its symptoms. This understanding could increase relatives patience, acceptance and hopefulness and could lead to an attitude with less hostility and criticism. A good treatment towards the patient could also reduce the patient's risk for relapse.

Conclusion: The conclusion was that support and education could promote relatives' treatment towards patients with schizophrenia by relieving relatives' burden, increasing their hopefulness and enhancing their understanding of schizophrenia and its symptoms.